Skip the Northern Ireland Government Bar|
Skip navigation



Important information about Swine Flu

Nidirect brings together lots of information from government departments and agencies, written in a language that is easy to understand. You don't need to know the workings of government to find what you are after.

How Are Rates Calculated?

This section contains information on

Domestic properties:

The following calculation is used to calculate your domestic rate bill.

Rateable Capital Value X (Domestic Regional Rate + Domestic District Rate) = Rates Payable

Rateable Capital Value is worked out by taking the capital value of your property i.e. the amount your property could reasonably have sold for on 1 January 2005 and deducting any exemptions.

Domestic rates are charged on the Rateable Capital Value of a property up to a maximum value. This maximum is applied automatically to properties which have a Rateable Capital Value above the maximum. The Rateable Capital Value on which your your rates are assessed is shown on your bill.

Domestic Regional Rate is the number of pence in each pound of the value of your property that you will pay in rates to the central government. The Northern Ireland Executive (The Assembly) sets this rate. This revenue helps fund public services such as roads, education and healthcare.

Domestic District Rate is the number of pence in each pound of the value of your property that you will pay in rates to your district council. Your district council sets this rate. The revenue generated helps fund district council services such as bin collection, tourism and recreational facilities.

If your property has mixed use, each part will be assessed separately for rates. An example of "mixed use" is a shop (non-domestic) with a flat (dmestic).

Rates Payable. If you get help to pay your bill (for example, Housing Benefit, Rate Relief or Lone Pensioner Allowance) we take this off the amount of rates due, leaving the amount you must pay for 2009/2010.

Back to top

Capping

If your home has a capital value of more than £400,000 your rate bill will be automatically ‘capped’. This means that the amount you need to pay will be worked out as if your capital value was £400,000. This will be shown on your bill.

Transitional relief

In April 2007 changes took place to the domestic rating system in Northern Ireland. Transitional relief helps ratepayers whose rate bill has increased by more than 33% above the amount that would otherwise have been payable in rates for the property under the old Net Annual Value (NAV) system. Transitional relief will be provided automatically over a three-year period from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2010.

  • In the first year (1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008), we provided transitional relief on the full amount over the 33% threshold.
  • In the second year (1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009) we provided it on two-thirds of the amount over the 33% threshold.
  • This year (1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010) we will provide it on one-third of the amount over the 33% threshold.

From 1 April 2010, ratepayers will have to pay the full amount of rates.

Additional information on Transitional Relief and a Transitional Relief Calculator is also available.

Back to top

Non-domestic properties

We will continue to work out rate bills for non-domestic properties using the Net Annual Value (NAV) multiplied by the total of the non-domestic regional rate and the non-domestic district rate. If your property has mixed use, (such as a shop (non-domestic) with a flat (domestic) above it) each part will be assessed separately for rates.

Non-domestic vacant properties

Vacant non-domestic properties with a rateable value of £2000 or above are liable for vacant rating. This means that the person entitled to possession (usually the owner) is liable to pay 50% of the rates due after the three-month exemption period that applies to vacant properties.  Certain other exemptions may apply. For more information:

  • contact our helpline on 101, minicom 18001101 (the alternative number for those calling from outside Northern Ireland or who are unable to access the 101 service is 02891 513101)
  • Email ndvr@lpsni.gov.uk (opens in new window)

Back to top